MAUDE: Phil and I recently wrote about a new game we are playing, with some cards that Phil has doctored for the game. Certain cards represent morning or afternoon, some mean Phil or Maude chooses, and some mean take a …

It’s Important to Make Room for Relationships Even When Life is Busy Read More »

Each week, we jam about a topic and record it. This week, the conversation was so on point that we cleaned up the audio and turned it into the dialog below. PHIL: Two or three weeks ago, I found myself …

How to Make Positive Choices in Your Relationships Read More »

PHIL: Trust is an essential part of good relationships. The first thing I want to say about trusting someone is that it is not what they say, it is what they do. What they say about themselves or how they …

The Secret to Deep, Peaceful Relationships is Quiet but Powerful Trust Read More »

PHIL: You talked at lunch about two friends who spend much of their day in each other’s company doing activities together, and I said that is not us; we have a different balance, though I suspect it’s not totally equal, …

What’s in the Cards for Your Relationship? Read More »

PHIL: In this culture, there is a strong focus on the individual. It is your responsibility to take care of yourself, to stay alive, to plan for the future. And yet, we are not a solitary species; we are a …

How Relationships and Community Fulfill the Same Need for Connection Read More »

To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work. Mary Oliver PHIL: I’ve been meditating recently and have discovered that when I consciously sit still, it works much better. I’m not talking about making an effort to keep my …

Why Stillness and Attention are at the Core of Peaceful Relationships Read More »

MAUDE: I experienced a close friend engaging in the blame game this last week, and it was such a strong experience that it made me want to write about it here. My friend seemed to be walking around drowning in …

How to Stop Playing the Blame Game and Actually Feel Peaceful Read More »

PHIL: Besides writing with Maude, I also write independently on Substack. Maude is away on a trip for a few weeks, so I want to describe some ideas of mine and explain how they apply to relationships. I’ve been thinking …

How the Play Between Words and Feelings Affects Your Relationships Read More »

MAUDE: Phil is always saying that “we are a social species, and connection is a deep need we all have.” One of the ways that we achieve this in our various relationships is by sharing our experiences. This generally happens …

The Pleasures and Importance of Shared Experience in Your Relationships Read More »

MAUDE: Last night, as we were talking about what we want to write a post about, a way of being present came up, and here we are with the post that grew out of that conversation. After an evening jamming …

Are You Emotionally Present in Your Relationships or Just Not There? Read More »